WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Yes, that’s rain!

Rain isn’t always big news, but when it happens after days of sky-shrouding smoke, it is. So in case you can’t believe your ears, we’re verifying – that’s rain. We’re hearing it here over Lincoln Park; Gill in White Center reports it there too. Might not be enough to clear things up – warns the Weather Service – but it’s certainly welcome.

26 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Yes, that's rain!"

  • Joseph September 15, 2020 (1:23 am)

    Thank God. It was a good little soaking for our VERY-thirsty trees, lawns, and shrubs and washed some of the smoke out of the air. It also brought the fire danger down a notch or two.

  • pelicans September 15, 2020 (2:26 am)

    Light at about midnight, then by now at 0220, steady, wonderful, cleansing Rain!

  • Just wondering September 15, 2020 (5:24 am)

    Every drop helps! Science knows!

  • anonyme September 15, 2020 (7:24 am)

    I’m seeing a patch of open sky and clouds to the east.  A welcome sight, although air quality is reported as worse than yesterday.

    • heartless September 15, 2020 (8:14 am)

      I know–the sky got (briefly) clear enough to where I could actually see a couple of clouds, and I was ridiculously thrilled.  Who’d think a Seattleite could get excited about seeing clouds!

      But as you point out, air quality is still just awful.

      Please keep safe.

    • Sunflower September 15, 2020 (8:20 am)

      So hopeful to see some sky, and hear more bird activity this morning!

      Hang in there everyone, hopefully in a couple days we’ll have clearer air again.

  • Anne September 15, 2020 (7:30 am)

    Unfortunately didn’t cleanse enough-air quality index at 7:30 is 238. 

  • wsperson September 15, 2020 (8:44 am)

    Why is the air quality worse now? I thought the worst was over…

    • Sunflower September 15, 2020 (9:02 am)

      Maybe the humidity is a factor?

  • rpo September 15, 2020 (9:05 am)

    The duwamish air quality sensor has been hovering at 318 since yesterday afternoon. No change from the rain. I really thought the rain would wash some of the smoke out, but apparently that’s not the case!

    • MikeRussellFoto September 15, 2020 (1:49 pm)

      Just a quick FYI, that 318 is using WAQA not AQI. (I saw the link you posted below is for the WA Ecology site, so I am assuming that was what you were looking at when you saw 318.) That is a different scale compared to most other sites that use EPA AQI. Nothing wrong with that, but just giving some context to why it was higher than what others might be seeing.

      And don’t get me wrong, I am no expert. I just  was wondering myself why the Duwamish sensor reads as one number on airnow.gov and the same sensor showed a different (always higher) number on the WA Ecology site.

      Turns out someone else had the exact same question, and it was asked and answered on the wasmoke.blogspot.com site yesterday. 

      Here was the answer:

       “AQI and WAQA have different thresholds for particulate concentrations. So WAQA index will always be worse than AQI. (Ecology uses WAQA).”

      The more you know… :-) 

      • heartless September 15, 2020 (3:25 pm)

        That is very helpful information, thank you so much for taking the time to report it here!

      • rpo September 15, 2020 (3:33 pm)

        Correct. AQI is the federal scale, and WAQA is the state scale. AQI has not updated their risk thresholds in decades despite studies finding that particulate matter is far more harmful than the current AQI scale indicates. Because of that, Washington state created their own scale (WAQA) that will be used until the federal government catches up. So, in other words, the WAQA state scale is far more accurate concerning our health effects for the time being.

  • Flivver September 15, 2020 (9:30 am)

    What’s a good website to get air quality #s?? Puget sound clean air agency website doesn’t have up to date numbers

  • Gill September 15, 2020 (12:12 pm)

    Do a Google search with “seattle air quality map” which will allow you details for your area.

  • Greg September 15, 2020 (3:07 pm)

    I’ve learned that particles under 2.5 microns may be invisible.  They seem to float in the air while the rain can fall through.  Also older smoke system already has an elevated moisture content.  It takes a concerted effort from wind or rain to move or dissipate the smoke mass.   The more I learn, the more concerned I become about air quality over time weighted average in the workplace.  How environmentally hazardous is your work place?  Are we protecting our brothers and sisters properly?  If not, are they adequately compensated for their sacrifices?  Why is Waqi far more stringent than Fed Aqi;  WISHA always stronger than OSHA?  These things, I consider,as I begin my shift in the toxic cloud.

    • Bill September 15, 2020 (3:19 pm)

      The larger particles may have help precipitate the rain

      • Greg September 15, 2020 (8:21 pm)

        Consider the effect of those large particles influence on the mighty forces of nature and the journeys they made.  Not one surely, but enough like-minded large particles, visible in their purpose.  I wonder if the smaller particles join with the larger particles in that affect or if they remain bound to lower atmospheres.  Either way, all particles must fall back to earth eventually, I suppose. Or can some keep travelling outward into the heavens?

    • Joseph September 15, 2020 (4:32 pm)

      Acute, brief (10 days to 2 weeks) smoke exposure to people with healthy cardiovascular and pulmonary systems won’t cause any long-term health issues. Our lungs, nasal passages, and bloodstreams are destined to expel the toxins over time after we get clear air. However, exerting yourself with aerobic exercise outside will toxify the body with up to 20 times more unhealthy air. I’d also hold off on even indoor heavy aerobic exercise, too, unless you have very good MERV 13+ filtered air to breathe. The air filters at L.A. Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness and other large commercial gyms work very well but may not eliminate the 2.5 micron and smaller smoke particles we’re getting. Those go straight into the bloodstream and won’t be gone from our atmosphere until we get some steady winds.

      • heartless September 16, 2020 (1:44 pm)

         Our lungs, nasal passages, and bloodstreams are destined to expel the toxins over time after we get clear air.”

        Lol.

        Thanks, but I prefer listening to scientists who have actually studied this stuff.  What’s your area of expertise again?

  • Jill Forsberg September 16, 2020 (1:04 pm)

    Here’s a good scale 

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